Saracens XV side come out on top in “Mean Machine” curtain raiser

In celebration of Saracens Sport Foundation’s award winning ‘Get Onside’ programme last Saturday saw Feltham prison officers take on a Saracens XV made up of Saracens staff and a number of ex-offenders who have graduated from the Get Onside programme in the annual “Mean Machine” curtain raiser.

The game is played each year as a celebration of the Get Onside programme and the partnership between Saracens and Feltham Young Offenders Institution. Get Onside is a personal development programme delivered in Feltham prison helping young offenders make positive decisions and improve their life opportunities.

The course has a strong track record and has seen just 10% of previous participants reoffend – compared to a soaring national average of above 70%.

Saturday’s game was played in great spirit with the scores close for much of the game and Feltham heading into the break with a slender 2 point lead. The second half saw more competitive rugby and it was not until a try in the last play of the game that Saracens could pull away eventual winners – 34-24.

A thank you must go out to everybody who supported the event on and off the field and a special mention should go to the Get Onside graduates who travelled up to Allianz Park to play. During the match, former Get Onside participant Tim stood out above the rest making a number of huge tackles in the centre (one stand out being on the Get Onside course leader playing for Feltham) earning him a deserved man of the match award – Tim has been thriving since leaving Feltham and has just started his second year at Kent University.

If you would like to hear more about the Get Onside programme or have any opportunities for Get Onside graduates please contact Nick Gourlay by email at nickgourlay@saracens.net